I get the message from Parallels when I start a Windows XP virtual machine saying that VT-x is not being used because it's disabled in the BIOS. The thread at http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=577 provides a very technical approach but I just can't follow it. Surely there's a simpler way to enable it than that? PCs have BIOSes you can tweak at startup. Doesn't the Mac? Or something I can click? Surely I shouldn't need to muck about with code and kernel extensions... (Given the supposedly huge difference it can make to the quality of the Parallels experience, I'm surprised there isn't more support from Parallels themselves about this.) Thanks Deep Phil (Mac Mini Core Duo 1.66GHz, 2GB, 80GB, host Tiger / guest XP Pro SP2)
It's been reported that the latest Apple firmware update for the mini fixes the problem. If it doesn't, you could always hire someone to "muck about with code" for you; or you could learn, I suppose. Actually, I like the concept of "there must be a simpler way". Maybe I can apply that concept to learning to play the piano; there must be a simpler way than pushing all those keys at exactly the right time. Sometimes the technical approach is the one that works -- think surgery, flying an airplane, etc.
I've done the firmware update, I should have mentioned. I'm not averse to hiring someone to muck about with code for me, nor to learning how to do it myself (isn't that sort of what I'm trying to do here?). However before I go very far down either of those routes I thought I'd use my initiative and ask in a public forum where people discuss this kind of thing, in case there is a method that doesn't involve having to do so. Like most people, I am extremely busy. Your piano analogy, if I may say so, is rubbish. I play the piano for pleasure. I don't write Mac Mini BIOS configuration utilities for pleasure. And if I wanted a simpler way to hear piano music, I'd put on a CD. Yes, surgery, flying an airplane, technical approach works, but not everyone wants to be a pilot or a surgeon. What on earth is wrong with wanting as simple a way of doing something as possible? You could apply your logic to pretty much any post asking for help in pretty much any forum. But personally I take offence at the implication I can't be bothered to learn or find out for myself. Thanks anyway. Deep Phil (Mac Mini Core Duo 1.66GHz, 2GB, 80GB, host Tiger / guest XP Pro SP2)
Have you tried the (ephemeral) method in http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=1508? By the way, did you read jaketraynham's step-by-step guide in the other thread, http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=577#20? You don't have to compile anything, but yes it is a bit more tricky than pressing DEL on startup (but EFI is still superior to BIOS in other regards). Hopefully Apple will fix it in a future firmware upgrade, I have no idea why they haven't yet. Good luck!
